Nakagami pleased to overcome clutch problem

Takaaki Nakagami was in a more positive mood as he left Mugello on Monday night, having rectified the clutch problem that had put him out of Sunday’s Moto2™ race.

The accident in Italy was Nakagami’s second consecutive retirement through a fall, although this time was through a clutch issue with his Italtrans Racing Team Kalex.

“Since the Warm-Up I had a problem with the clutch, which the mechanics tried to modify,” Nakagami told motogp.com. “It was a very strange feeling, but we didn’t have time to change it on the grid. From the start of the race I had a very strange feeling with it; the bike was very nervous and difficult to improve lap times with.

“(Scott) Redding passed me and then I just tried to follow him because I know he has good pace. After a few laps I felt more problems and lost the front tyre, so I crashed again. I’m really disappointed because Mugello is home for the team.”

The Japanese rider’s mood had improved 24 hours later, despite rain having disrupted the single day of post-race testing that was on offer.

“We tried to modify the clutch and we now understand what the problem is,” he confirmed. “I only did 20 laps in the dry conditions but we improved the lap time and the good feeling I have with the bike, so we’re happy and we understand it now.”

Five races into the 2013 campaign, Nakagami sits tenth in the Riders’ Championship. He is yet to qualify off the front row of the grid this season.